Understanding the Confessions A Brief Statement of Faith

Understanding the Confessions A Brief Statement of Faith

A BRIEF STATEMENT OF FAITH AT A TIME OF MERGING 1983

Historical Context and Purpose Intended to be a concise summary of the Reformed tradition that could be used in worship settings with the merging of the UPCUSA and PCUS in 1983 Meant to be included in The Book of Confessions Attempts to remedy some of the weaknesses of earlier documents in light of more modern concerns. It alone acknowledges that election is for the blessing of all nations and not just salvation. It alone affirms the place of women alongside men in ordained ministry. It has a heavy emphasis on the application of faith to social justice concerns.

FORMAT AND CONTEXT Arranged in six sections with a Trinitarian core Trust is the organizing theme First Section: Faith is not simply intellectual assent to concepts, but a relationship of fidelity. Opening echoes the Heidelberg Catechism s first question, assigning the entire scope of human life and death to the reign of God and acknowledging him as our only trust Second Section: Speaks of our trust in Jesus Christ Places much emphasis on his life and ministry places some emphasis on the Christus Victor theory of atonement in contrast to the heavy emphasis of penal substitution in the Reformation confessions Notably absent is discussion of his ascension and return.

FORMAT AND CONTEXT continued... Third Section: Speaks of our trust in God the Father Covers creation, sin, and redemption, highlighting God s covenant faithfulness throughout the biblical history Uniquely present here are links between human sin and exploitation of others and God s creation Its take on the image of God proposes that this image is the basis of an ideal universal community of humanity, a concept that might run counter to its intended point of first addressing Jesus Christ, through whom we know God, indicating a potentially conflicting understanding of creation, reconciliation, and election by placing human unity in creation and not in reconciliation, this document potentially diminishes the role of Jesus Christ as the true image of God and the only source of true unity. this enables the church to engage with social justice initiatives without requiring reference to Jesus Christ, and thus participate in the common good without giving authority for the good to Jesus Christ

FORMAT AND CONTEXT continued... Fourth Section: Speaks of our trust in God the Holy Spirit. Uniquely present here is the notion that the Spirit is the basis of self-acceptance, as well as love of God and neighbor. The Spirit is the source of unity in the body of Christ, the one who unmasks idolatries within and without the church. The Spirit enables us to hear the voices of the oppressed, and to work for justice, freedom, and peace. Fifth Section: Acknowledging with Paul that nothing can separate us from God in Christ Jesus Sixth Section: The Doxology

References for the Essential Tenets in the Book of Confessions God is Triune, that is, one being, three persons. 10.1 Human beings are made in God s image. 10.3 Jesus Christ is truly God and truly human. 10.2 God made the world good. 10.3 The Fall distorts our relationships with the created world, with each other, and with God: our natural tendency is now to exploit the creation, treat other people with injustice, and fall into idolatry. 10.3 We are each deserving of eternal condemnation. 10.3 (not eternal) Jesus offered Himself for us on the cross, saving us from sin and death by bearing our punishment and by offering God the perfect obedience due to Him. 10.2 We are declared justified because of God s grace. 10.4 We are elect in order to bless others, by witnessing to God s grace. 10.3 Men and women alike are called to all the ministries of the Church. 10.4

Discussion Questions: How does.. the system of doctrine in the Brief Statement accurately and faithfully reflect the theological teaching of the Scriptures? the Brief Statement of Faith reflect the grace, love, and joy of the gospel? it enable the church to confess what it believes and hold the church to believe what it confesses? it speak in a clear, concise, accessible, and warm manner to the whole church? it call for both affirmation and rejection? it represent merely the interests of one group in the church, or does it take responsibility to speak from and to the one universal Church? it speak only to its own temporal context or does it speak of the eternal truths of Scripture? it allow the eternal truths of Scripture to speak into our context?

Inclusion Considerations: Alongside the Confession of 1967, it is a document unique to the PC(USA), written for its own purposes. It is the only confessional support for ECO s emphasis on egalitarian ministry If our Essential Tenets are to have full confessional support, we must include some document that supports egalitarian ministry and election for the sake of blessing at a minimum. If A Brief Statement is rejected, it would be necessary to create a replacement statement. Is the beginning of ECO as momentous as the reunion of Northern and Southern Presbyterianism in 1983? If so, one solution could be the commissioning of a replacement for A Brief Statement of Faith (PCUSA) that is similarly suitable for corporate worship settings to help create unity of purpose as we seek to be a movement, not just a denomination.

A Musical Picture of the Brief Statement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goqal0trrke